Manipulation of Proteins, Cells, & Endoscopy Optics with Piezoelectric Devices

Piezoelectric devices convert electrical energy into mechanical energy yielding static deflection or oscillatory motion. With quartz crystal resonators, surface acoustic wave devices, and lead zirconate titanate actuators, proteins, cells, and endoscope optics were manipulated. Chapters two through five detail accelerated protein and cell release from planar substrates with quartz crystal resonators and surface acoustic wave devices. Targeted applications include immunoassays, cell separation, and cell membrane permeation. Results demonstrate acoustic wave dissipation into the fluid resting upon the oscillating surface accelerated nonspecific binding removal, while minimally removing bound antigen from antibodies, a common immunoassay challenge. An optimal difference in specific vs. nonspecific protein release rates was found at 100 mW using 5 MHz quartz crystal resonators. Because surface acoustic wave devices produce higher peak fluid velocities, approximately 10-fold relative to quartz crystal resonators, nonspecific protein and cell release experiments were extended to surface acoustic wave devices. Surface acoustic wave induced protein desorption, nonspecific cell release, and spatially dependent cell membrane permeation results are presented. In chapter six we detail a miniature two-dimensional fiber optic scanner design, fabrication, and fiber characterization methods for a real-time in vivo multi-photon endoscope.DARPA, NIH, USD